The Embryonic Chicken as a Model for Central Nervous System Injury and Repair

We briefly explain why we chose chicken embryos as a model for central nervous system (CNS) repair, specifically to study the regeneration of brain stem-spinal axons after complete transection of the spinal cord. We then outline the quick and relatively simple spinal transection and injection procedures. We also describe the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological procedures that can be used to analyze any subsequent functional repair/regeneration. Finally, we summarize some of our recent results using these techniques.